Jesus Christ Superstar Ben Forster has swapped his flowing robes for suspenders to appear as Brad in the musical Rocky Horror Show. He tells Steve Pratt why it was time for something completely different

AFTER playing Jesus, Sunderland Superstar Ben Forster is seeking his inner geek. He’s opted for the 40th anniversary tour of Rocky Horror Show from the offers made after winning ITV1’s Superstar competition and playing the title role in an arena tour of the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical Jesus Christ Superstar “Brad couldn’t be more different. He’s such a geek and wears suspenders and heels,” he says.

In Richard O’Brien’s shock-horror musical, Brad and fiancee Janet (played by former Emmerdale star Roxanne Pallett) are squeaky clean college kids taken in by Dr Frank N Furter when their car breaks down outside his house.

“Having that sort of coverage in the Superstar competition meant you were displaying your ability to all the casting directors watching. I got a lot of offers, which is lovely. One of the them was to play Brad. So I’m dead lucky,” says Forster.

“Although I’ve had a career for 12 or 13 years, most people know me for being Jesus, so I really wanted to do something completely different. Brad is such a geek.

And I have to wear suspenders and high heels, after which I have every sympathy for women.”

The production brings him to the Empire Theatre in his home town of Sunderland, although he’s then leaving the show – replaced by Sam Attwater for York Grand Opera House – for a second arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar that brings him back to Newcastle Metro Radio Arena in March.

“I grew up a quarter of a mile from the stage door of the Empire. Doing the show in Sunderland means I can stay at home with mum and dad,” he says.

The last time he appeared on that home town stage was in a variety show with an amateur operatic company. Shortly after, at 16, he left home to study performing arts in London. Now in his early 30s, he’s appeared in West End shows including Thriller, Grease and La Cava.

He won through to the TV finals of Superstar after nationwide audiences, boot camp and singing for composer Andrew Lloyd Webber at his Majorca villa. Months of preparation were followed by performing in the TV show itself over ten consecutive nights as the would-be Jesus performers were eliminated one-by-one by the public vote. Forster emerged the winner.

The competition was concentrated and intense. “I can’t tell you how terrified I was every day. Even though you’re in a little bubble, it’s such a risk for an established performer,” he says.

“It was hard process that took up three months of my life. There were six weeks of intense rehearsal for Jesus Christ Superstar and then the tour. It was hard but really positive.

“What a great prize – it couldn’t have been better.”

He starred in the arena tour alongside Spice Girl Mel C, Tim Minchin and Chris Moyles.

“It’s hard work that show. It demands your body and your soul. When you walk down the stairs in an arena filled with 10 to 18,000 people, there’s nothing that can prepare you for that.”

The show was also filmed and released on DVD. In some countries it was shown in cinemas. “It played all over the world. I get messages on my website from places like Korea and Japan from people saying they’ve watched it in a cinema. It’s the most brilliant thing.”

And now Rocky Horror Show. He’d only ever seen the movie, never the stage version, which has been touring almost constantly since debuting at London’s Royal Court in a small upstairs studio theatre.

“I didn’t want to see the show or watch anyone’s interpretation. I wanted Brad to be a version of me, of a character that’s inside you. I’m looking for my inner geek.

That makes it the best and most honest performance you can do,” he says.

“I love Brad – he’s funny and cute and really geeky. He might be the most geeky Brad ever.”

Voice-wise, the vocals are different to the demands of Jesus. “In a way it’s harder to play because I’m so used to singing high and up there. I’m singing in a bit of a different register. But it does mean I can enjoy a glass of wine and not affect my voice,” he says.

Rocky Horror Show audiences are noted for their vocal appreciation at performances.

They join in, reciting lines along with the actors and mimicking their actions.

“The director briefed us for what it might be like but nothing can prepare you for what happens. You just don’t know what’s coming,” says Forster.

Being able to see the audience in a theatre is very different to performing to thousands in arenas. He likes that. “I’m back where I belong, where I’ve spent nearly a decade – on the musical theatre stage.

It’s nice to be able to look at people and hear people laughing. You can’t in an arena, it’s just one mass of audience.”

The TV show had a welcome spin-off. It led to his album, which he’d recorded independently, selling well. “The night I won, the orders on the website were incredible.

I think people enjoy the honesty – it’s just me and a guitar.

“I’m working on a new album, either when I get back to London for a few days or when the guys producing it come to visit me.”

Since winning Superstar, his ambitions have remained the same. “I love what I do.

I was happy where I was. But I would love to do a tour on my own and people to just come to see me singing, dancing, doing numbers from different shows and my album. I’d love to put on a good show.”

As for roles he’d like to play, he reckons there’s a dream part in every show. He does mention Valjean, the lead in Les Miserables.

“I’m a bit young for that at the moment but I love Les Mis,” he says.